Blood Imp

first of all: congratulations to such a nice game!
it has a lot of potencial and it will be better than dungeon keeper, keep the good work on!

i noticed that you can level up your minions to level 10 with the trainingsroom, arena and the spirit chambers..... personally i think it would be much more exciting if the training/leveling would be more similar as in dungeon keeper 2.
i mean that training the minions in the training room would cost some gold and the level should be limited to level 4. the spirit chamber should just level till level 8 or so and the arena the only way to train your minions to level 10.
it would keep the first encounters on a lesser minion experience level and would bring much more excitement, for the higher levels, which get more difficult to reach, really gonna make THE difference.

Augre

IIRC the barracks originally were intended to only let minions level up to Lvl 5, after which they either had to do real combat or fight in the area. However, this was very early and development and eventually got replaced by the current system, probably to emphasize the training difference between beasts and intelligent minions.

Ghoul

I prefer it this way. But much later they Might (mighty quest) make changes in the map editor that will allow level parameter setting scenario maps.
However the AI wouldn't lvl minions properly probably. So were they to change it there would be alot of work involved to get AI's to use spirit chambers and arenas. As much as getting them to make traps and use rituals and potions probably.

Shadow

Considering the fact that beasts are the ''meat-shield'' troops, they should be capable of getting levels much quicker than they do right now. Currently, it's not worth to spend any time leveling beasts when you can dedicate that time on normal units.

I notified some of QA members about Torture Chamber and the way it works. Right now this room isn't effective enough - it doesn't scorch units quickly ( or at all ), while converting 1 creature, even by lvl10 succubus or lvl10 inquisitor takes way too much time.

Managing Director

Considering the fact that beasts are the ''meat-shield'' troops, they should be capable of getting levels much quicker than they do right now. Currently, it's not worth to spend any time leveling beasts when you can dedicate that time on normal units.

Shadow

I suppose if arena bug won't happen again and Beastmasters will get some sort of reward for training beasts ( could get a small amount of XP instantly or something ), I might start building slightly larger arena, not just 3x3 for 2 beastmasters.

Right now, you can quickly get lvl10 guys as soon as you unlock spirit chamber and get one Witch Doctor. If you own a gold shrine, getting all your major units to lvl10 is the matter of 5 - 10 minutes. Too quick for no real cost.

As for next tournament - too early for that. Game is not yet ready, nor fully balanced.

Won't really nerf AI since it will still try to go aggressive early. At later phase AI still will lose to a player who will use Spirit Chamber at full.
I guess it's time AI gets coded to use spirit chamber at some point, as well as more optimized build order, so it doesn't build unnecessary rooms again and again ( like 2nd lair or 2nd slaughter pen and so on ).

Ghoul

And as you have said before the aggressive behavior without the trained minons to back it up is counterproductive for it. Also 25 tile of lair is not enough lair. You have been very vocal about how the AI is too easy and now the there will be a bigger distinction between levels this should be a big deal to you yet you seem to be taking a contrary position. I have to wonder if you are trolling.

Shadow

And as you have said before the aggressive behavior without the trained minons to back it up is counterproductive for it. Also 25 tile of lair is not enough lair. You have been very vocal about how the AI is too easy and now the there will be a bigger distinction between levels this should be a big deal to you yet you seem to be taking a contrary position. I have to wonder if you are trolling.

Building 2 lairs of 25 or expanding one to 6x6 or more are two different things.

Additionally, AI was never that good with training. The so-called passive training that comes from Barracks is something both players can have without spending any time on it. As for pumping units on Spirit Chamber with gold, so far, only human players can do that. Nerf that barracks will receive won't really matter.

AI requires complete overhaul because it currently isn't properly introduced to new game mechanics and balance. It's more than building rooms and digging gold - it's about how efficient each room will be and how well it will be utilized. You shouldn't worry about changes like these - more will probably come soon. What should concern people is the fact that AI is outdated and requires much more attention, which it won't get in next patch. Such work requires a whole patch of it's own.

About us

Brightrock Games is an independent videogame studio based in Brighton, UK, with a core team of ten people from around the world. Our goal is to create genre-twisting simulation games in which players can experience their own stories.

And if we can do it with a quirkily British sense of humour, then all the better!